A trusty Leica owner, do you carry extra body or extra lens?

Helsinki Combo

Helsinki Combo

Just came back from a short trip to helsinki. Brought my M6 and M6TTL with 35 and 75 Summicron and 24 Elmarit. Almost never used the 24 and the M6. So only the M6TTL and 35/75 would have been enough. I don't mind switching lenses, but sometimes it's nice to have a second body for bw and slide film at the same time.
 
My experience is similar to Roland's. On recent business trips, I've slipped a single camera/lens into my bag (R3A + 40, or Canonet Q17 GIII).

For a long weekend getaway w/ sightseeing ops, I pack an M2 and a couple of lenses (50 & 28), and an Oly XA. Black and white film goes in the M2; color goes in the XA. This was the kit I took to Chicago last December (ok, I also took a 35 lens for the M2, but could have left it at home). It was great: very pocketable, versatile, simple, light.

For a longer vacation, I would bring the M2 and one other rf body (probably the R3A), and 3-4 lenses depending on where I'm going, what I anticipate shooting, and how I'm traveling. I'm currently leaning toward 28/40/50/100 as a four-lens set for this kind of travel. Again, b&w in rf body, color film in the other.

I'm a little skeptical about the risk of mechanical failure as a justification for taking an extra body, but then I don't make a living from photography. However, I like the idea of a second body for a different film, and to minimize changing lenses. YMMV.
 
I always take a top of line 35...a ZM or M7, or G2 and a couple of lenses. I then take one 120 folder and either a 126 or a 110 for fun. I also tale a top line 35mm point and shoot with a flash like a Contax T3 or Nikon 35 TI.

Boy it's hard to pack!
 
Of course, a lot depends on whether the main purpose of the trip is photography or not, but as it almost always is for me, two cameras make sense, with the important (unrepeatable) shots backed up as far as possible on both cameras. Relying on a single camera, if it's your livelihood, is foolish.

Edit: Yes, you can't always shoot the exact same pic on both cameras, but if you use both, you can get quite a lot of pics on each -- enough to publish. That's also why, for me, it makes most sense to carry two more-or-less interchangeable cameras, especially, two Leicas. I don't have to think about the different strengths and weaknesses of two different systems.

Cheers,

Roger
 
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Andrew Sowerby said:
Like Tom said, an extra body is good in case something goes wrong or you want to use different kinds of film. I usually take a serious camera and a small camera (e.g. rangefinder and P&S).
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That's how I travel too. One "serious" camera and a smaller one. The serious camera is normally the Bronica RF645 with normal and wide lenses (so I would vote taking the extra lens), but I've recently got into Leica and will probably take that as an alternative. The small camera that always goes with me is a trusty Rollei 35 SE, good for creaky old backs, and has a nice lens. I've never considered taking duplicate bodies.

Steve
 
Keeping It Simple

Keeping It Simple

Photography is a hobby I enjoy especially when I travel. I have found that a M body with a 35/90 combo fits my requirements nicely. Now equipment is a slippery slope. I recently added a 351.2 so now I debate between taking it or the 352.5. And a second body would be nice (primarily for different film). And we all know how small the 15mm is etc, etc, etc.

Now if I did it for a living (did once) I would certainly carry more then one body and two lenses. I don't know how many times in the last 40 years I have fallen for the idea of more equipment allows you to be a better photographer (better doubtful, more tired certainly).

I have been doing most of my travel recently by motorcycle. A single body, a couple lens, and lots of film fits nicely into a tankbag while being easily protected from the elements and vibration but easily available. Adding more equipment would only cause complications.

I am planning a trip by motorcycle from the US to Tierra del Fuego this winter. Originally, I was going to only carry a Canon G9 since it is small, very capable and photography was not the primary goal of the trip. Well, the G9 was back to Canon for repair twice in a year of very light use so it is history. I am very comfortable with only taking one camera and a couple lenses as long as I feel the camera is reliable and have to say either my M4 or Nikon F body will be along on that trip. Now if I can only avoid the temptation of adding equipment.
 
...and then you have to decide what film to bring color or black & white and what ISO and slide or negative and how much....
 
dovevadar said:
You have a camera known to withstand some knocking - A film Leica. Do you when going on a travel trip bring:

1. an extra body (if so, what will it be)?
2. whole set of different focus lenses?
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I don't think Leica's absorb knocks very well. They dent and ding and the rangefinder can go out of alignment.

Anyway, I bring two bodies and four lenses. One body for B+W, one for colour.
 
i'm currently in travel mode and i'm carrying an M3 with a collapsible summicron and an M6TTL with a current summicron. two bodies and two lenses means two different speeds and "looks" for me. 🙂
 
So far it was M body + Noctilux for short trips to cities or M body + 21/90 + Hasselblad + tripod for landscape (when traveling by car).

I went to a one day trip last Sunday, bringing my M2 + M6 + 35mm + 90mm and used all of the equipment but found carrying it around quite annoying ... For the next trip I think about bringing only the M6 + 35/1.4 ... 🙂
 
jke said:
...and then you have to decide what film to bring color or black & white and what ISO and slide or negative and how much....
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At least that is easy for me - Tri X and in rare instances Acros 100. If somebody would insist on a color shot - I would give them as set of Maxell hand painting oils and they can do it themselves!
 
If 1 body then 2 lenses, if 2 bodies then 2 or 3 lenses, if I don't feel like changing lenses then 2 bodies and 2 lenses; all M mount.

If traveling, definitely 2 bodies with 4 lenses (of any kind RF or ESLR).

I also do the 1 RF/1 lens with 1 ESLR/1 lens combo if I need the reach of 135mm+
 
I'm a one body and two lenses person and all the debating is in what 2 lenses? Generally the 35mm gets the nod and then, a 50 or a 21 or the 75. If I'm heading off bush camping with the 4 wheel drive everything goes, 2 bodies, 8 lenses plus the FE2 and macro and tele lenses. Overseas holidays and multi day hiking, it's allways back to the one body (M6ttl) and two lenses. Of course I'm not a pro where photos=income. But it's all fun.
 
One body, one lens, one film. I've found from personal experience that being prepared for everything leaves you prepared for nothing. Plus, I feel incredibly free not lugging around gear. I love only packing one small bag!
 
dovevadar said:
hmm.. interesting.. dont you guys find carrying 2 different system (RF & SLR) very heavy? why not a common mount body that can share lenses.?
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Yes, it is. Last overseas trip I made I brought with me a dSLR, a Rolleiflex, two film Leicas, the M8, and Tylenol.

I never carried all of them at the same time. The heaviest day was when I carried the 5D (and three lenses) with the M2 (and three lenses), Rolleiflex. And of course, batteries and film. You need the right camera bag(s) to pull this off.

I lost about 10 lbs. that same week. It's good exercise. Insane, but it's good exercise.
 
Last trip I took the MP with 28/2, 35/2 and 50/1.4 as well as the Rolleiflex.

Took in all on the plane in a big bag then packed a smaller bag each day with either the Leica stuff or the Rollei. A most enjoyable time.
 
TomA has told us very clearly that his multiple cameras would always be loaded with TriX, so I presume he's using the multiple bodies to avoid changing lenses and to have an appropriate VF/lens combination to hand (e.g. he says the wide angle lenses are paired with the R4M).

But what about others who take multiple bodies? Do you take them to reduce lens changes and use a common film, or is to permit different films to be used on the same day and you don't mind swapping lenses?

(As for myself, I have just the M6ttl + 35 + 50, so for me the question is purely academic - so far...)
 
M2, 35mm, 50mm and maybe a 90mm.

I went totally overboard on my last trip. I went to India and Japan for 1 month but since I had to work, I was forced to take my laptop. I took a Lowepro compu trekker filled with my 17" screen laptop, mouse, external hard disk, Kiev 4, Bessa R2C, Jupiter 8, 9, 11, Helios 103, CV Color Skopar 35 and a digi point and shoot (this was before I got the Leica). I staggered under the nearly 30 lb weight of that backpack. In Okinawa my luck ran out and while boarding a flight to Taipei, they suddenly weighed and x rayed my backpack and forced me to transfer most of my gear into the suitcase. My film went through the baggage scanner. 🙁
Never again will I travel with that much gear! One little bag with my camera and 2-3 lenses is what I am going to take next time I go anywhere.
 
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